Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

No denying it's role, but is it a reason to move to TO?

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

I didn't actually say that although some people might have that as a consideration.

I was commenting on the reasons that Toronto is considered a world class city. Having one of the top universities in the entire world (along with its research facilities, teaching hospitals, etc) is certainly a part of the city's "world class" reputation.

By the way, here's a link that gives details of U of T's economic impact:

http://www.rotmancommerce.utoronto.c...ts/utquick.htm

Economic Impact
• 117 spin-off companies with 4,000 employees and revenues of $725 million
• Generates $1.11 for every dollar of funding from federal and provincial governments
• 15th-largest employer in the Greater Toronto Area
• U of T employees, students and alumni put an estimated $5 billion into the economy of the Toronto region annually

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Aside from the fact that the Rotman school, part of the University, is hardly an unbiased source, I won't take issue with your factoids. Quacquarelli Symonds, which publishes (in tandem with THES until last year) an international ranking of universities based on a fairly comprehensive methodology, puts U of T 29th in the world, second in Canada behind McGill. Of those ahead of Toronto in the rankings, 7 are in the UK, 15 in the US, 2 from Japan, and one each from Switzerland, Australia and China. So I suppose U of T just about makes it into the major league.

I still don't think Toronto is a "world-class city", though.

• It doesn't have international cultural clout (the symphony, the ballet, the opera, the art galleries and museums, are all decidedly second-division and don't really attract top international talent to conduct, direct or perform);
• it doesn't feature politically (I doubt anyone outside the GTA knows or cares who Rob Ford is, in comparison to, say, Boris Johnson in London, or formerly Jacques Chirac in Paris or Rudy Giulani in New York: they were international news-makers);
• it hasn't hosted a major games or world's fair (OK, so it's lost the Olympic bid twice, but by the benchmark of even Canadian cities that puts it behind Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver). Most other contenders for "world city" status have had either an Olympiad, or an Expo, or both;
• it doesn't have globally noticeable architecture (obviously it's never going to compete with European cities for the historical buildings, but in the context of the modern then cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Sydney, knock TO into a cocked hat; there are many places in North America that have a more memorable built environment. If it weren't for the CN tower, there'd be little for anybody to have heard of);
• the zoo is a red herring - it's one of the largest by area, but doesn't make most lists of top zoos by any other criterion. And their elephants keep dying in mysterious circumstances

Again, I say Toronto is a decent enough place to live, and to live well on moderate means. But world class? No, not really.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Well, I'm pleased the CN Tower got a mention.

That's a World Class eyesore if ever there was one.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Depends on your definition of "world class city". I think Toronto is one. You don't. So we disagree. Big deal.

This ranking system has U of T at #17 in the world - ahead of McGill:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.u...1/top-200.html

But #17 or #29 - who cares? U of T is a world class university - no doubt about it.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Getting away from Toronto then, where does this silly expression "world class" come from and what's it supposed to mean? Canadians love it so I wonder if it's from a Rush song.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Visit the all amazing underground PATH system , spend hours trying to find an exit sign. :rofl:

ps: I love Toronto! The greatest city in Canada - Full Stop.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Well the researchers at Loughborough University had a stab at it. They think Toronto is world class. It's an "alpha world city"!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

They don't seem to say so. At least, I couldn't find it.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Pretty much says it all....

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Well, let's put it this way...they're above the Toronto haters on the credibility list! ;)

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Debate over..the Urban Dictionary has settled it:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...20class%20city

And Toronto is on the list along with "possibly Seattle"! ;)

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

No one on this this thread has said anything about hating Toronto. Good grief though, people are sensitive about the place. It's ok. It has some nice features. It's probably the second least boring city in Canada. I wouldn't have chosen it but I've been paying property taxes there for a couple of decades, I haven't felt compelled to severe all ties with the place. Shame about the Mayor though, it was more fun when Mel Lastman was the man.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

Having moved around numerous countries with my work, I find that people everywhere like to justify where they live. What amuses me is that they will say that their country is the greatest in the World or has the best medical system in the World without them actually ever been outside their own back yard.

Re: What to do in Toronto?
 

While that's undoubtedly the case, I think Toronto's a place people get unreasonably defensive about, many Torontonians think the rest of Canada, indeed the rest of the world is full of people who hate the place. In fact, among the people who have heard of it, most are indifferent.

I think the worst feature of the place might be that it's a bugger to get into or out of, whether for commuting or living there and wanting to go away for the weekend. The airport's awful. The traffic diabolical. The major roads subject to frequent closure. There's decent transit along the lakeshore but travelling in any other direction implies using a car and taking a couple of hours to clear the sprawl. The Friday afternoon rush starts at 2 and goes on until past 7.

It's better if you live downtown and stay there, within the bounds of the subway and trams, but then the kind of house you're going to get isn't going to match an immigrant's expectation of Canada. And, in terms of exposure to "the great outdoors", you'd be better off in Hackney.